Oil-circuit closer



Patented Apr. 3, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. YONT, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR TO THE FLINT ELECTRIC ANDMANUFACTURING COMPANY, F RADO.

DENVER, COLORADO, A CORPORATION OF COLO- OIL-CIRCUIT CLOSER. v

Application led October 13, 1919. Serial No. 330,353.

To all whom t may concern.' y

e it known that I, CHARLES. A. YoNT, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Oil-Circuit Closers; andI do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in l0 the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference' markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to circuit closers to be used in mines and otherplaces where there is considerable dampness, and where explosivematerials are found in the air.

The object of the-invention is to enclose the contacts, whereby a-rcingwill not cause explosion of explosive gases, and wherebyshort-circuiting of the contacts, due to collected moisture from thedampness, may be prevented.

Briefly the invention comprises a bellshaped housing having acompartment filled with oil. Within this compartment stationary springcontacts are mounted, these being suitably insulated and havingconductors extending to the outside of the housing. These contacts aresubmerged in the oilwithin the housing, and a plunger carrying aninsulated circuit-closing contact operates in the oil. By this means thecircuit is closed under the oil, and arcing is prevented.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification Fig. 1 is a sideelevation.

.F ig. 2 is a wiew of the bottom of the device.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section showing the devices in normal position; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section showing the device in position to close thecircuit.

The bell-shaped housing 10 is provided with ears 12 for mounting thesame. Within the housing a transverse wall 14 is provided, into which anupstanding sleeve 16 is threaded. A reciprocating spindle 18 extendsthrough the sleeve 16 and is provided at its outer end with an eye 20for manipulation. The inner and upper end of the spindle 18. has a cap22 mounted thereon,

I6 retained by means of a nut 24 and cotter 'tures for the pin 26. Thecap 22 is provided with an aperture 28 for a purpose to be described. Atthe lower end of the sleeve 16 a cylindrical guide 30 of ber or otherinsulating material is positioned. On the top of the Aguide 30 the lowerend of a spring 32 rests, the upper end thereof engaging the undersideof the cap 22 to normally retain the spindle and cap in elevatedposition. A cylinder 34 of fiber or other insulation is fixed in the cap22 at its upper end and slides upon the guide 30 at its lower end. Thejoint between the cylinder 34 and the guide 30 is not tight, but issuiiiciently close for guiding purposes. A circular contact 36 is fixedupon the sleeve 34.

Stationary spring contact lingers 38, having their free ends reverselycurved as at 40, are secured to the wall 14 by means of conducting bolts42, retained by means of nuts 44 and insulating plugs 46. The lower endof the bolts 42 are provided with conductor-receiving heads 48, havingaperends of the conductors, and set screws 50 to anchor the conductors.

A cap 52, resting upon a gasket 54, is secured to the housing 10 bymeans of bolts 56, threaded into integral lugs 58 on the housing 10. Atthe top of the cap a seat 60 is provided for the upper end of thespindle 18.

The housing 10 extends below the wall 14 and provides a cavity for theheads 48 and conductor terminals. The lower end of the housing isprovided with a groove 62 forming, in addition to the outer edge of thebell-shaped housing, an inner annular ring 64, having a lower knifeedge. These parts provide edges from which accumulated moisture mayreadily drip, and the groove 62 prevents the working of moisture fromthe outside of the housing to the vinner side of the cavity abovementioned.

The interior of the housing is lled with oil 70 to a point a littlebelow the lugs 58, as indicated. In this manner the contact fingers 38and the contact 36 are always submerged in the oil. The oil is anon-conductor and prevents arcin'g at the time that the circuit isclosed. At the same time the accumulation of moisture to short-circuitthe contacts is prevented.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there is presented a device forefficiently preventing short-circuit by moisture in 110 mines and otherdamp places7 and also for enc-losing oon'taotsand preventing areing asisrequired by governmental regulations in coal mines and other gaseousworkings.

I claim:

l. An oil circuit closer comprising a housing having a bottom Wall andcontaining oil,

a Contact submerged in the oil, a vertieallv7 disposed sleeve threadedinto said bottom Wall and extending above the oil level, a spindlereoiproeable in said sleeve, a member connected to said spindle anddepending around said sleeve, a spring around lsaid sleeve Within saidmember to elevate the spindle, and a Contact on said member to engagethe submerged Contact.

2. An oil circuit closer comprising a housing having a bottom Wall andcontaining oil, a pair of contacts submerged in the oil, a verticallydisposed sleeve threaded into the bottom Wall and extending above theoil level, a spindle reoiproo'able in sleeve, a cylindrical memberconnected With the inner upper end of the spindle and depending aroundsaid sleeve, a Contact on the said member to be brought into engagementwith said pair of submerged contacts, and. means in said cylindricalmember to normally retain said member and spindle in elevated position.

ln testimony whereof I alix my signature.

CHARLES A. YONT.

